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PARTNERS
MONDAY 20TH JUNE 2011
NEWS
River runs for
tourist industry
Rudd calls off party
AAP
KEVIN Rudd’s “assassination
party” has been killed off.
The former prime minister
had intended to celebrate the
first anniversary this week of
his political ousting by Julia
Gillard by hosting a tongue-
in-cheek “Assassination Day”
party at his Brisbane mansion.
However his wife... Read more
Cattle exports may
restart
KARLIS SALNA : AAP
AGRICULTURE Minister
Joe Ludwig will meet his
Indonesian counterpart today
amid ongoing dissatisfaction
in Jakarta over Australia’s
decision to suspend live cattle
exports.
Senator Ludwig, who arrived
in Jakarta... Read more
Hand gel warning
HOSPITALS are being urged to
review public access to alcohol-based
hand gels after an alcoholic patient
drank six bottles at The Alfred
hospital in Melbourne. Reporting
the case in The Medical Journal of
Australia, doctors said six empty
containers of Aqium Gel, with an
alcohol content of 66 per cent, were
found in the bed of a 45-year-old man who was
being treated for alcohol-related gastritis. Read
the report by Julia Medew in The Age.
KEVIN NAUGHTON
SOUTH Australia’s house
boat industry is enjoying a
buoyant winter season and
is set for its best spring and
summer in a decade.
After prolonged drought
followed by floods and
strong flows, the River
Murray is “back to its best”,
says Don Griffen, chairman
of the Houseboat Hirers
Association.
It’s timely news for the State’s
tourism industry, competing
for tourists attracted to
overseas travel while the
Aussie dollar surges to
record highs.
“Ten years ago, terrorism in
Bali and then issues with the
SARS virus sent tourists in
search of domestic holidays,
so these things go in cycles,”
Mr Griffen said.
“But while all there’s
ever-changing conditions, we
have always got the River and
right now you’ll never see it
so good.”
Mr Griffen said the industry
had held up well in recent
years, despite perceptions
that the drought made the
River an undesirable location.
“We saw levels drop, and that
was mainly a problem at the
mouth, but further upstream
it wasn’t as bad as it seemed
to many people.
“But all the news about
drought, irrigators and
governments meant we
faced ongoing negativity.
Read more
Catfish numbers rebound
THE River Murray is brimming with good health
after a summer flush and reasonable winter
inflows.
Wetlands and floodplains have rebounded with the
dwindling numbers of catfish making a comeback.
Recent ecological monitoring by the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
has found inundated wetlands and floodplains
within the Murray River National Park to be
teeming with native fish species.
Nine native fish species – including freshwater
catfish, dwarf-flatheaded gudgeon, unspecked
hardyhead and Murray-Darling rainbowfish –
have been captured from floodplain and wetland
habitats of the Katfish Reach during the recent
flood event.
Read more
Before and after pics of lagoon. Photos: DENR
Joe Ludwig
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<h1>Catfish numbers rebound</h1>
<p>THE River Murray is brimming with good health after a summer flush and reasonable winter inflows. </p>
<p>Wetlands and floodplains have rebounded with the dwindling numbers of catfish making a comeback. </p>
<p>Recent ecological monitoring by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has found inundated wetlands and floodplains within the Murray River National Park to be teeming with native fish species. </p>
<p>Nine native fish species – including freshwater catfish, dwarf-flatheaded gudgeon, unspecked hardyhead and Murray-Darling rainbowfish – have been captured from floodplain and wetland habitats of the Katfish Reach during the recent flood event. </p>
<p>According to DENR wetland ecologist, Lara Suitor, the recent high river is an essential process of the river floodplain ecosystem and has been particularly beneficial for native fish species. </p>
<p> “The Katfish Reach rehabilitation project has been identified as a priority floodplain project for environmental flows and broad-scale rehabilitation for native fish,” Ms Suitor said. </p>
<p> “Native fish populations in the Basin’s rivers have declined, with experts estimating that current levels have dropped to about 10 per cent compared to pre-European settlement.” </p>
<p>At 9000ha, Katfish Reach, located southwest of Berri, is a demonstration site under the Native Fish Strategy of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA). </p>
<h1>Hand gel warning</h1>
<p>HOSPITALS are being urged to review public access to alcohol-based hand gels after an alcoholic patient drank six bottles at The Alfred hospital in Melbourne.</p>
<p>Reporting the case in The Medical Journal of Australia, doctors said six empty containers of Aqium Gel, with an alcohol content of 66 per cent, were found in the bed of a 45-year-old man who was being treated for alcohol-related gastritis.</p>
<p>Read the report by Julia Medew in The Age.</p>
<h1>River runs for
tourist industry</h1>
<h2>KEVIN NAUGHTON</h2>
<p>SOUTH Australia’s house boat industry is enjoying a buoyant winter season and is set for its best spring and summer in a decade. </p>
<p>After prolonged drought followed by floods and strong flows, the River Murray is “back to its best”, says Don Griffen, chairman of the Houseboat Hirers Association. </p>
<p>It’s timely news for the State’s tourism industry, competing for tourists attracted to overseas travel while the Aussie dollar surges to record highs. </p>
<p> “Ten years ago, terrorism in Bali and then issues with the SARS virus sent tourists in search of domestic holidays, so these things go in cycles,” Mr Griffen said. </p>
<p> “But while all there’s ever-changing conditions, we have always got the River and right now you’ll never see it so good.” </p>
<p>Mr Griffen said the industry had held up well in recent years, despite perceptions that the drought made the River an undesirable location. </p>
<p> “We saw levels drop, and that was mainly a problem at the mouth, but further upstream it wasn’t as bad as it seemed to many people. </p>
<p> “But all the news about drought, irrigators and governments meant we faced ongoing negativity. </p>
<p> “Even last summer there was a perception that the River was full of dangerous debris and flowing at an unmanageable rate. </p>
<p> “But those issues have passed; the River has been flushed out, the wildlife is back in numbers I have never seen and it’s become a great time to get on the River.” </p>
<p>But if they thought it would be a problem free season, there was another issue to deal with. </p>
<p>The State Government decided to review its tourism expenditure and has recently moved to dismantle regional marketing boards and their Tourism Commission-funded chief executives. </p>
<p> “Those boards and offices were very useful in coordinating content for campaigns such as Secrets and Shorts. </p>
<p> “It’s not a popular move in the industry, but the regions are now working on ways to fill in the gap left by this decision.” </p>
<p>For Don Griffen and his 120 Houseboat owners 2011-12 will be a welcome relief. </p>
<p>Owners have mostly held on, rather than sell their vessels below a fair value. </p>
<p>This season they will get their financial reward; and the joy of living on the River. </p>
<p> “Even now it’s amazing,” Don said. </p>
<p> “Calm sunny days, the River like glass, early morning mists one water and a fire at night; what more could you want.” </p>
<h1>Cattle exports may restart</h1>
<h2>KARLIS SALNA : AAP</h2>
<p>AGRICULTURE Minister Joe Ludwig will meet his Indonesian counterpart today amid ongoing dissatisfaction in Jakarta over Australia's decision to suspend live cattle exports. </p>
<p>Senator Ludwig, who arrived in Jakarta last night, will meet Indonesian Agriculture Minister Suswono, who is understood to remain unhappy with the way in which the matter has been handled by Canberra. </p>
<p>Last week, Suswono criticised the Australian government and Senator Ludwig for failing to consult with his office before the suspension in trade was announced. </p>
<p>He also voiced anger at the fact that no concerns about abusive practices in Indonesian abattoirs had been raised when Senator Ludwig visited Jakarta in March for discussions related to beef exports and the live cattle trade. </p>
<p>The visit comes after little headway was made last week in negotiations between an Australian team and Indonesian officials aimed at reaching an agreement on which animal welfare standards would be applied in slaughterhouses. </p>
<p>There were also plans for a joint Indonesian and Australian veterinary team begin inspecting Indonesian abattoirs last week, but so far none have been carried out. </p>
<p>Senator Ludwig issued a statement after he arrived in Jakarta, saying the government was committed to reaching an agreement that would allow the resumption of live cattle exports. </p>
<p>"Indonesia is one of our closest trading partners," he said. </p>
<p>"It is a relationship of tremendous importance to Australia and the Australian government remains committed to working constructively and cooperatively with Indonesia on this issue." </p>
<p>There is mounting pressure on the government from industry to lift the suspension, imposed following a report on the ABC's Four Corners program which highlighted abusive practices in Indonesian abattoirs. </p>
<p>The Greens and animal welfare groups, however, have called for an end to the live cattle trade. </p>
<p>At the same time, The Australian newspaper is reporting that the live cattle trade to Indonesia may restart in 21 days. Read the story by Lauren Wilson and Nicolas Perpitch. </p>
<h1>Rudd calls off party</h1>
<h2>AAP</h2>
<p>KEVIN Rudd's "assassination party" has been killed off. </p>
<p>The former prime minister had intended to celebrate the first anniversary this week of his political ousting by Julia Gillard by hosting a tongue-in-cheek "Assassination Day" party at his Brisbane mansion. </p>
<p>However his wife Therese Rein, in a tweet late yesterday, said the party was off for the time being. </p>
<p>Ms Rein said she and her husband had thought it would be nice to honour their promise made at the time of his sacking to arrange a party for staff and friends. </p>
<p>"But, given that it seems to be turning into something of a media event, Kevin and I have decided to postpone it," she tweeted. </p>
<p>"We will hold (sic) a bit later so we can catch up with our friends and thank those terrific people properly".</p>
<p>Mr Rudd had threatened to re-enact the June 24 night he was dumped by the ALP caucus when his staff threw him into the swimming pool at the Lodge before partying on into the night. </p>
<p>But Mr Rudd's regular appearances in the media has angered some colleagues who see it as a threat to the prime minister. </p>
<p>Former Queensland premier Peter Beattie has urged Mr Rudd to bury the hatchet, saying the continuing tension with Julia Gillard will devastate Labor's vote and ensure Tony Abbott becomes prime minister. </p>
<p>Read Phillip Coorey’s report in the Sydney Morning Herald. </p>